MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 29: Geno Smith #7 of the New York Jets throws the ball against the Miami Dolphins on December 29, 2013 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Jets defeated the Dolphins 20-7. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Geno Smith

Jets quarterback Geno Smith (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — One week he’s called the worst starting quarterback in the NFL; the next he’s talking Super Bowl.

Now on one hand, what would you expect a starting NFL quarterback to say? The Jets have had problems at the position for the better part of the last 40 years, so to have not just Smith, but also newcomer Michael Vick mention the Jets and Super Bowl in the same sentence, as the veteran did back in the spring, it speaks potentially to a new kind of needed leadership at the position.

Smith has been under a lot of criticism since the second the Jets drafted him in the second round last year. He endured a rocky rookie season that saw him throw for more than 3,000 yards, but complete just 55.8 percent of his passes while tossing just 12 touchdowns to 21 interceptions.

Smith got it together over the season’s final month, efficiently leading the Jets to three wins in their last four games and an overall 8-8 record, something nearly every media expert viewed as impossible heading into the season given the Jets’ apparent lack of talent on offense, most specifically at quarterback.

By all accounts Smith has had a very good offseason, earning praise from the coaching staff for his leadership, command of the offense and his execution during OTAs and minicamp. However, that didn’t stop Jets legend Joe Namath from taking a shot at Smith at around the same time ESPN was conducting a poll of NFL insiders that ranked him dead last among the 32 starting quarterbacks in the league.